TOPS
Sidelined due to a knee injury, preventing him from participating in the CAN with the Fennecs, the Algerian returned to the field this weekend against Montpellier. With only 45 minutes left, this round of 16 of the Coupe de France fell just in time for number 10. It was he who launched the hostilities, and in what way. Served at the entrance to the area, Amine Gouiri sends a missile from 20 meters into the right corner of Patouillet (24th), the kind of goals to consume without moderation. Beyond his double, the OL-trained player was very active in the development of Rennes’ actions, and played a good game allowing him to get back into rhythm and his starting place. Before the European deadlines, Gouiri was full of confidence and seems completely recovered.
Once again, the Rennes number 9 takes advantage of the Cup to improve his statistics and regain confidence. After a long drought at the end of 2023, Arnaud Kalimuendo scored a double in the previous round against Guingamp. And Tuesday evening, he did it again. In transition, Truffert is found in the area and looks for a receiver in the center, the former Lensois is there and pushes the ball into the back of the net (35th). Again on the counter, the Rennes attack circulates the ball from right to left until Kalimuendo. The Parisian titi stares at his defender and imitates his ex-teammate, and scores a “mbappesque” goal by closing his foot (41st). In his last 7 matches, the international hopeful has scored the same number of goals, and is gradually restarting the scoring machine.
FLOPS
This is the only downside of the beautiful Rennes evening, and it was avoidable. Already against Montpellier, Enzo Le Fée ended the match on his knees before leaving in the 90th minute. So his start in a midweek match, against a National team, and less than 10 days before a trip to San Siro, raises questions. Barely had the match started, the Breton midfielder collapsed like a grown-up, forced to leave the pitch in the second minute. Evacuated on a stretcher with both arms on his face, Le Fée is worried and will surely be absent against AC Milan in the Europa League play-off.
The challenge was significant and Oswald Tanchot tried something new in his system. With a series of 7 games without defeat, including victories against Lorient and Reims in the Coupe de France, the Sochalian four-man defense was a safe bet. Except that the Cubs coach innovated with a 3-5-2 and it didn’t work out for him. Gomis, Fontaine and Vitelli were lined up in the line of three and, if they held on for the first 20 minutes, they were in complete wreck after Gouiri’s missile. On the goals that followed, the yellow and blue generosity allowed Stade Rennais to advance. It’s too late to replay the match, but usually you don’t change a winning team.
